New to the Forum

I just wanted to say hello, I just joined this forum and am hoping to gain some good information. I am new to reloading Cartridges (I have been reloading shotshells for a while). I am going to start with 9mm.
I have gotten a box of Berry 115g plated round nose bullets and some wsp primers. From what I have read, and my history with winchester powder in shot shells I have decided to go with the W231 for powder. If I am correct I should be able to start out with the 115g lead round nose load data on Hodgdon's site using w231 at 4.3g and working up from there?
I am looking forward to getting stated loading 9mm

If you enjoyed reading about "New to the Forum" here in TheHighRoad.org archive, you'll LOVE our community. Come join TheHighRoad.org today for the full version!

nambu1

January 5, 2012, 08:19 PM

Welcome. This is an informative forum. 231 is a good powder for the 9mm.

J_McLeod

January 5, 2012, 08:25 PM

Welcome to The High Road! You are correct about starting at the lead data and working up. 231 is a good powder.

JDGray

January 5, 2012, 08:43 PM

Welcome! Very knowledgeable bunch here, not many issues go unsolved:)

Walkalong

January 5, 2012, 08:43 PM

welcome to THR

floydster

January 5, 2012, 08:46 PM

Welcome, I have been reloading for over 50 years and this is my "go to" place for info that i need :)

Blue68f100

January 5, 2012, 08:54 PM

Welcome to THR.

Starting loads may not work your slide. So don't go loading up more than your willing to take apart. Workup your load stepping 0.1gr.

n2006

January 5, 2012, 10:12 PM

Thanks for the warm welcome. I had planned on loading up a half dozen to start with and go from there.

Hondo 60

January 5, 2012, 10:30 PM

Welcome to thr!

Your load sounds good.
How about posting a range report once you've had a chance to fire them?

n2006

January 6, 2012, 07:25 AM

Welcome to thr!

Your load sounds good.
How about posting a range report once you've had a chance to fire them?
Will do, It might take a week or two before I get to that point. I still need to order a few things.

accrhodes

January 6, 2012, 09:00 AM

Welcome. I'm looking forward to the range report. Reloading is a great hobby. Best of luck and be safe.

n2006

January 6, 2012, 06:46 PM

Well, I have a slight change of plans. I went to the gun shop today to get powder and no w231. Being impatient I got 1lb of unique to get started with. I have heard many good things about this powder as well. My father-in-law has never loaded with anything else. All I need now is to order the shell holder for my primer seater and I am up and running.

n2006

January 22, 2012, 05:29 PM

Well I finally got some loads made up and I tired them out. I ended up starting at 4.9gr of Unique with the 115gr Berry's Plated Bullets for 5 loads. I took them out and they worked very well. Each one cycled well and hit what I was aiming at.

Walkalong

January 22, 2012, 06:00 PM

Sounds like a good start. A little light.

n2006

January 22, 2012, 06:47 PM

Yea, I started pretty light but I was happy with the way they worked. I am thinking about going to about 5.3gr on the next batch and see how that works

grubbylabs

January 22, 2012, 10:56 PM

Load a few in each range and see what your gun likes. I use Unique quite a bit my self and am pretty happy with it.

I had a friend over a few weekends ago and he loaded 1,000 9 mil on my press.
He used most of his unique but there was still a lot left.

Welcome to the forum and enjoy your new hobby. There are quite a few good folks here and they are quick to help.

1SOW

January 23, 2012, 05:54 AM

Welcome to the forum and to reloading.

One recommendation.

Your load manual gives you a range for the powder your using. Start low, as you did; but load 5 each with .2gr increases up into mid-range+.

Shoot the lowest load first to check function. Use another target and shoot the next load, another for the next, etc.
Record all your results for future reference. One of these will shoot smoother and/or more accuately. The next time out load +/- .1gr around that one to fine tune it to what your pistol likes best.

P.S. HP-38 is exactly the same as Win 231. Both are now to "Hogden" specs. They may have that locally.

Enjoy the hobby.

rfwobbly

January 23, 2012, 07:42 PM

Welcome !!

Well, I have a slight change of plans. I went to the gun shop today to get powder and no w231.

Usually when a shop doesn't stock Win 231, it's because they stock Hodgdon HP-38, which is the exact same powder under a different name. Try that.

n2006

January 23, 2012, 10:08 PM

I loaded up more rounds and I think 5.2gr of the unique is where I like it. I compared them to the winchester white box target bulk loads that I had and they are very comparable. Now I just need a nicer day at the range for better accuracy testing and more practice. Im sure they are already more accurate than I can shoot!

n2006

February 15, 2012, 07:29 PM

Well I am headed to the indoor range this weekend to get some accuracy testing on theses 9mm hand loads. I loaded up 5 rounds each with 5.2gr Unique, 5.4gr, 5.6gr, 5.8gr, and 6.0gr. My book shows 6.3gr as a maximum load for 115gr fmj but since I am using berrys plated bullets I wont go that high. I'm hoping to get some good results and load up a big batch next time. Chime in if you have any thoughts.

Hondo 60

February 15, 2012, 09:03 PM

Welcome to the High Road (again)!

Sounds like you have some very good components.
I like Berry's bullets & W231 will be a good powder to make 9mm rounds.

Don't forget: "The only dumb question is the one NOT asked that gets you or someone else injured or worse"

If you enjoyed reading about "New to the Forum" here in TheHighRoad.org archive, you'll LOVE our community. Come join TheHighRoad.org today for the full version!